On the plane heading back to Korea.
Most of the Awakeners were fast asleep, as if dead.

After a grueling ten-hour raid in an S-rank Gate,
who wouldn’t be exhausted?
Even Yoojin and Kong had fallen asleep as soon as they sat down.

*Toss and turn.*

"Ugh, I can’t sleep…."

Yet, one person remained awake, unable to sleep.

Alice frowned slightly, truly tired and wanting to fall asleep right away.
But no matter how hard she tried, sleep wouldn’t come.

"If I could just read about ten chapters, I’d probably drift off."

The reason for her insomnia? She hadn’t had a chance to read her favorite type of comics.

...It was a unique reason, but she had her reasons.

Ever since meeting Yoojin, nights had become her time for exploration.
An exploration of the vast world called "Eyeball," as she dubbed her guilty pleasure.

So, before falling asleep, she would usually read these comics.
At least an hour’s worth, sometimes several hours if the story was good.
She’d been following this routine for almost seven weeks now.

But tonight, going to sleep without reading?
It just didn’t feel right.

She kept thinking, *I should check if anything new was uploaded.*
*I need to see that series with the locked rooms you can’t escape without… you know…*
Such thoughts kept swirling in her mind.

A reason that was, in many ways, very typical of her.

*If I just lower the brightness and read it secretly….*

*Shuffle.*

"Zzz…"
"……."
'There’s no way I can read this next to Yoojin!'

But Yoojin was sleeping soundly beside her.
She couldn’t just read her "Eyeball" comics comfortably by his side.
Even for her, reading something like that next to him was a bit too embarrassing…

[Next time, I’ll take you to an even nicer place…]

'Hmm… maybe it’s okay if I read it? Yoojin did say he’d take me to a nice hotel.'

Alice was about to feel embarrassed, but only for a moment.
Her thoughts reached a rather odd conclusion.

*He said he’d take me to a nice hotel, didn’t he?*
*He must know what that implies.*
Unless he’s somehow under hypnosis to be clueless, he has to understand what that means.

Of course, knowing Yoojin, he probably meant it in the most innocent way possible.
If there’s a misunderstanding, she could clear it up later.

'How could we *not* end up… you know, doing that?'

———For Alice, it was the perfect opportunity.

Going to a hotel together? Just the two of them?
Surely this wasn’t just her misunderstanding.
It wasn’t just because she was obsessed with her comics; any normal woman would think the same. Absolutely.

Granted, she was aware it might be a misunderstanding, but…

[But what about Sia? Do you love Yoojin too?]
[Of course I do. As a man.]

'Besides, I’m on a tight schedule here.'

After all, Sia had dropped a bombshell at the end of the S-rank Gate raid.
She’d declared her feelings, saying she liked Yoojin and planned to confess.

From Alice’s perspective, it was only natural to feel anxious.
She had the support of her British friends, her mother, even Lady Ryu Soo-yeon, who all rooted for her.
She had to start dating Yoojin to meet their expectations.
But now Sia was planning to confess?

Sure, Sia might be lacking in some areas, but she was Korean like Yoojin.
Same age, wealthy, and likely to catch Yoojin’s interest with a confession.

"So…."

*Gulp.*

"I’ll just have to make my move first."

With everything lining up, Alice resolved firmly.
She would be with Yoojin before Sia had a chance.

After all, Yoojin was a man, wasn’t he?
If she subtly teased him while pretending to misunderstand?
If she outright invited him instead of being coy like before?

No matter how much restraint Yoojin had, he wouldn’t be able to resist.
And once they shared a night together, he’d probably take responsibility.

In her mind, this race would be won by whoever made the first move.

*Swish.*

"So, this is just practice for overcoming embarrassment. Think of it as training, Alice!"

After a long internal debate, she finally reached for her phone.
She and Yoojin were bound to cross that line eventually.
Despite her embarrassment, she braced herself and opened "Eyeball."

As she dimmed the screen and prepared to dive into her favorite comic series…

*Suddenly.*

"What are you doing while your disciple is asleep?"
"……!!!!!?"

...Just as she was about to immerse herself, a voice interrupted.
Someone, who wasn’t asleep, was watching her with sharp violet eyes.

"Get some rest."
"Well, it’s just that… I can’t sleep."
"Insomnia? No wonder you’ve been restless for a while."
"Yes. I’ll be careful not to wake Yoojin, so please just ignore it."

But Alice resisted.
This might be her only chance to read "Eyeball" while next to Yoojin.
An opportunity like this to strengthen her tolerance for embarrassment was rare.

If she kept the brightness low enough, it wouldn’t wake Yoojin.
In fact, it wouldn’t wake anyone. She’d keep perfectly silent.

"So…."
"I’ll put you to sleep. Have sweet dreams."

*Whoosh.*

But Aika showed no mercy.
She plucked a hair from her head and blew gently in Alice’s direction.

The magic-laden strand of hair floated toward Alice…

*Thwack.*

"…Urk."

And struck the back of her neck.

A sound like a leather drum echoed briefly as her body slumped to the side.

*Thud.*

"……."
"Mmm…."

Alice ended up asleep, leaning over,
her hand resting on Sia’s exposed thigh beside her.
It was a sight that could make even a polar bear shed tears.

Of course, Aika paid it no mind.

*Grin.*

'I kept watching her, wondering when she’d fall asleep… turns out it was just insomnia. I should have helped sooner. We both went through unnecessary trouble.'

A smile of satisfaction crept onto her face.
She was relieved that everyone was finally asleep.

The reason she’d waited was…

'Disciple, I’ve been waiting a long time!'

Her disciple, Yoojin.

My dear disciple went through so much today.
He even called me a "delicate woman."
He handled the S-rank Gate effortlessly.
He was so endearing today, truly.

But what about Yoojin himself?
It was obvious. His strained muscles were practically screaming.
He might not show it, but…
He’d fallen asleep the moment he sat down, so he had to be exhausted.

'You must be tired, so as your master, I’ll give you a special treat. You’ll feel light as a feather when you wake up.'

So, as a good master, she would give him a massage.
Loosen his muscles, restore his energy pathways.
While he was asleep, when no one else was watching.

———And she’d hold him close while she did it.

*Gulp.*

'He’ll sleep better in my arms anyway. I can even be his pillow.'

After a faint sound of her swallowing, she reached toward Yoojin.

With her disciple fast asleep, she intended to scoop him up and hold him close.
To hold him tight while gently kneading his muscles as he slept.

The pure heart of a master caring for her disciple.
At least, that’s what Aika thought.

And then…

"……."

*Ding.*

[The higher skill '???' glares, saying “Mom isn’t asleep yet!”]
[The skill 'Complete Hypnosis' rushes in with its goalkeeper gloves on!]

The Saintess, also awake, sprang into action.

Her gaze turned to Aika, ready to wield Yoojin’s power of Complete Hypnosis.

Suddenly struck by hypnosis, what would Aika do?

"Hehe, my dear disciple, I’ll make you comfortable right away…."

*Ding.*

[Complete Hypnosis snaps back!]
[With a surprised “Huh?!", it falls back on its butt.]
[It marvels at the tenacity of human nature.]

Completely ignored.
Aika didn’t even realize she’d been nearly hypnotized and continued her actions.
Her hand reached toward… the zipper on his tracksuit.

The zipper slid down with a *zip*.
The sound marked the outcome of round one: Aika versus Complete Hypnosis.

'I’d better touch his bare skin than over his clothes…'
"……."

*Ding.*

[The higher skill '???' claps its hands.]
[Complete Hypnosis, which had flown far away, now comes charging back!]
[With a short, fierce “Hyaaah!” it tackles Aika’s mind.]

Round two began immediately.
Complete Hypnosis threw itself at Aika’s mind, complaining, *Hey, that’s a foul!*

'Wait. Isn’t this kind of sexual assault?'

[Complete Hypnosis grins slyly, saying it did it!]

'Eh, it’s fine. I’m a woman, so this should be acceptable.'

[Complete Hypnosis clings to a gorilla-like spirit and is dragged away.]
[The yellow cards stuffed in its pocket flutter pathetically to the ground.]
[The higher skill '???' sighs, muttering “Oh dear…”]

But Aika remained unfazed.
She placed her hand on Yoojin’s abs, beginning a touch disguised as a “massage.”
Her mouth even fell open a bit as she gazed at him.

"Hehe…."
'My disciple, I could carry him away and he wouldn’t notice… Maybe he wouldn’t wake up no matter what I did?'

[Complete Hypnosis puffs up its cheeks in frustration, grumbling.]
[It huffs, saying, *Fine, go ahead. I can just wake him up.*]
[Complete Hypnosis initiates Plan B, the forced awakening plan.]

With renewed determination, Complete Hypnosis ran back.
Its short legs dashed across the mental realm.
A skill it rarely used unless necessary.
The plan to simply wake its master.

'I’ll just pick him up and….'

*Lift.*

But Aika, oblivious, kept moving.
She slipped her hand under her sleeping disciple, ready to lift him up to her chest.

Unaware that Yoojin was about to wake up in one second.

[Complete Hypnosis sounds the alarm, shouting “Emergency~!!”]
[A low-energy siren, personally recorded, plays with a deflated “Wee-oo, wee-oo.”]

"Mmm…?"

Yoojin’s eyebrow twitched.
His mind, submerged in sleep, began to resurface.

Where am I right now?
And what’s that pressing against my…?

*Thwack.*

"…Ouch."
*Rest easy, disciple. Sorry for waking you. Sleep well.*

His eyelids, almost lifted, returned to their place.
The culprit? Aika, who had instinctively swatted him away.
Her loyalty to her disciple even justified a bit of violence.

[Complete Hypnosis, infuriated, hops around, throwing its 100th yellow card at her!]

Yoojin’s mental realm was once again in turmoil…
But what could Complete Hypnosis do?
Tiny, cute, two-dimensional Complete Hypnosis.
Up against that cruel, powerful gorilla of a spirit.

Complete Hypnosis could do nothing but watch its master getting kneaded…

[The higher skill '???' smiles, saying you’re struggling alone.]
[Complete Hypnosis sighs, realizing how hard it is without its master.]
['???' pats it comfortingly.]

At that moment, someone grinned within Yoojin’s mental realm.

From a cage bound by two remaining locks, a delicate hand reached out.
Unlike Complete Hypnosis, it was a long, slender, beautiful hand.

And then…

『———Come here.』

A voice, unlike the usual system notification, echoed through his mind.

[Complete Hypnosis races forward!]
*Tap-tap* sounds echo.
[Complete Hypnosis makes contact with '???'.]

*Flash.*

Then, '???' pressed its fingers into the soft, squishy cheeks of Complete Hypnosis.

Above Yoojin’s head, the Saintess’s eyes glowed.
Golden, like when Yoojin used his hypnosis powers.

At the same time, her pupils split vertically.
With a suddenly intimidating expression, the Saintess looked down at Aika.

『———You smell.』

*Poof.*

With that single word, she returned to her usual innocent smile.
In the mental realm, '???' and Complete Hypnosis exchanged a thumbs-up.

Only Aika was affected.

'Your neck must be sore, right? Sorry about that. But I’ll cushion you with my chest….'

*Pause.*

'Wait. Did his nose just twitch?'

Just as she was about to place Yoojin on her chest,
Aika, remembering something, stopped for a moment.

And then,

"……!!!!"

*Swift.*

She carefully laid him back down.
A rare act for Aika, who had been eagerly awaiting this moment.

But she had no choice.
She’d just realized…

She hadn’t showered yet.
Ever since entering the Gate until now.

*Do I smell? I don’t sweat, so it should be fine… but, oh, I was embarrassed earlier because Yoojin called me delicate!*

*Frantically.*

That was why Aika stopped her advances.
She was embarrassed that he might catch a whiff of her sweat.
She didn’t want him burying his face in her possibly sweaty chest.

Complete Hypnosis and '???' were both pleased…

[Complete Hypnosis smiles, saying “Mom’s the best…”]

*Stretch. Rub rub.*

*Ew, it’s so damp… I should clean up….*

"……!!!!"

[Complete Hypnosis stops laughing in shock!!]
['???' gasps, stunned by her actions!!]

They were horrified mid-laugh.
Neither had expected Aika to start wiping herself off.

*If I just clean this, it should be fine, right? Disciple, hang on. I’ll freshen up….*

['???' reaches out in panic!]
[Complete Hypnosis groans, saying *You reek, you gorilla!!*]

'Once you start noticing, it just keeps bothering you… I don’t have any perfume, do I?'

[Complete Hypnosis feigns gagging, pretending to retch.]

And so, a tiny war, known only to the Saintess, continued for another hour.
Until Aika finally gave up and fell asleep.

[Complete Hypnosis whines, saying *Mom, I don’t like her…*]
['???' says it’s a bit scary, waving its hand in worry.]
[*What kind of candidate for transcendence is this? This world really is falling apart,* it mutters, shaking its head.]

Unaware, Aika’s reputation plummeted.

* * *

A while later.

"I’m home, Haru~."
"Dad, you’re back early…."

A father-daughter reunion had arrived.

*Freeze.*

"Dad, did you bring back a sibling from America?"
"Oh, this? She’s called the Saintess. I saved her from a Gate."
"Congratulations on your wedding…?"
"Where’d you get that idea, Haru?"

It was not the touching reunion one might expect.